The Pigeon Paradox: Dependence of Global Conservation on Urban Nature

Dunn, Robert R.; Gavin, Michael C.; Sanchez, Monica C.; Solomon, Jennifer

doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00533.x

Cited by 239 publications

(197 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The medians in New York (and we suspect similar patches of habitat in other megacities) are sufficiently extreme to reduce diversity, even of disturbance-tolerant taxa such as ants. Thus the public, who encounter nature primarily in such patches (Dunn et al, 2006), are left with a narrow set of visually observable species with which to engage. Surprisingly, even this narrow set is relatively poorly studied-for example, one of the most common ant species in the medians does not have a species name and one has only been studied three times in North America .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban stress is associated with variation in microbial species composition—but not richness—in Manhattan

et al. 2015

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The biological diversity and composition of microorganisms influences both human health outcomes and ecological processes; therefore, understanding the factors that influence microbial biodiversity is key to creating healthy, functional landscapes in which to live. In general, biological diversity is predicted to be limited by habitat size, which for green areas is often reduced in cities, and by chronic disturbance (stress). These hypotheses have not previously been tested in microbial systems in direct comparison to macroorganisms. Here we analyzed bacterial, fungal and ant communities in small road medians (average area 0.0008 km 2 ) and larger parks (average area 0.64 km 2 ) across Manhattan (NYC). Bacterial species richness was not significantly different between medians and parks, but community composition was significantly distinct. In contrast, ant communities differed both in composition and richness with fewer ant species in medians than parks. Fungi showed no significant variation in composition or richness but had few shared taxa between habitats or sites. The diversity and composition of microbes appears less sensitive to habitat patchiness or urban stress than those of macroorganisms. Microbes and their associated ecosystem services and functions may be more resilient to the negative effects of urbanization than has been previously appreciated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban stress is associated with variation in microbial species composition—but not richness—in Manhattan

et al. 2015

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“…In turn, these may result in improved opportunities for urban dwellers to experience nature in their own neighborhoods, which can contribute positively to physical and mental wellbeing (Holbrook 2001). Dunn (2006) argues that conservation may increasingly depend on the ability of people in cities to maintain a connection with nature, with future incentives for conservation depending increasingly on people's interactions with nature in an urban setting. Ideally, this connection should be based on an appreciation of native species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Closing the Gap: Communicating to Change Gardening Practices in Support of Native Biodiversity in Urban Private Gardens

Heezik¹,

Dickinson²,

Freeman³

2012

E&S

101

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ABSTRACT. Private gardens collectively comprise the largest green space in most cities and the greatest potential for increasing the extent of wildlife-friendly and native-dominated habitat, improving the quality of ecosystem services, and providing opportunities for urban dwellers to reconnect with nature. Because attitudes and values driving landscape preferences in gardens are complex and often not conducive to biodiversity, and a gap exists between the possession of knowledge or values and the expression of pro-environmental behavior, facilitating change in gardening behavior is challenging. We attempted to improve knowledge and influence values, attitudes, and gardening behavior of 55 householders in favor of native biodiversity and environmentally friendly practices, through a two-way communication process, or interactive dialog, during a process of biodiversity documentation of their gardens. Informative feedback on their garden with a normative component was also provided. Despite being well educated and knowledgeable about common species at the start of the study, an increase in knowledge and shift in attitude was detected in 64% of householders: 40% reported a greater understanding of wildlife, and 26% made changes in their gardens, 13% to support native biodiversity. The normative component of our feedback information was of particular interest to 20% of householders. Because neighborhood norms influence gardening practices, changes adopted by a proportion of householders should be perpetuated across neighborhoods. The process of biodiversity assessment, dialog, and feedback was effective in improving knowledge of wildlife and native species, and stimulated a shift in attitude that resulted in native-friendly gardening practices. These changes were detected primarily through open self-report questions, rather than quantitative measures.

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“…Increasing urbanization worldwide has generated both greater awareness of the need to conserve urban biodiversity and an increase in the research required to inform that conservation process (Dunn et al 2006;DeStefano and Degraaf 2008). Urbanization dramatically changes the natural environment; some species thrive under the altered circumstances ('urban exploiters' and 'adapters'), but others ('urban avoiders') are unable to adjust to the altered environment (Blair 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance of disturbance by humans in long-time resident and recent colonist urban doves

2015

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Background: A critical trait for successful urban dwelling by birds is the ability to tolerate high levels of disturbing stimulation by humans. If such tolerance is partly acquired gradually after colonization, species with a long history of residence in cities are likely to be more tolerant of such stimulation than recent urban colonists, but this has not often been tested. Methods: We tested whether introduced Rock (Columba livia) and Spotted (Streptopelis chinensis) Doves, historically long-term residents of Melbourne, Australia, were more tolerant of disturbance by humans than the very recent colonist, the native Crested Pigeon (Ochyphaps lophotes) by comparing the Flight Initiation Distances (FID) and time allocations to vigilance during foraging of all three species in urban Melbourne. That all three species are members of the Columbiformes reduces the possibility that any species differences in tolerance are simply phylogenetic in origin. Results: Flight initiation distance was shorter in Rock Doves than in the other two species, which did not differ in approachability by a human. Rock Doves retreated from an approaching human mainly by walking a relatively short distance, Crested Pigeons mainly by running a relatively short distance and Spotted Doves primarily by flying a comparatively long distance. The time allocation to anti-predator vigilance of Rock Doves was smaller than that of the other two species, whose allocations were similar.

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The Pigeon Paradox: Dependence of Global Conservation on Urban Nature

Cited by 239 publications

References 11 publications

Urban stress is associated with variation in microbial species composition—but not richness—in Manhattan

Urban stress is associated with variation in microbial species composition—but not richness—in Manhattan

Closing the Gap: Communicating to Change Gardening Practices in Support of Native Biodiversity in Urban Private Gardens

Tolerance of disturbance by humans in long-time resident and recent colonist urban doves

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